Paraguay president says will not be candidate in 2018 election

ASUNCION, April 17 (Reuters) - Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes said on Monday he would not be a candidate in Paraguay's 2018 election regardless of whether or not Congress passes an amendment to allow second terms.

In a letter directed to the Archbishop of Asuncion shared on Twitter, Cartes said he was inspired by Pope Francis's call for peace and dialogue. Protesters set fire to Congress On March 31 after the Senate secretly voted in favor of the amendment. The lower house has not yet voted on the proposal.